Fastener



p 1935. D. A. BRENNAN 2,014,878

FASTENER Filed Dec. 19, 1932 Patented Sept. 17, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE FASTENEB,

Daniel A. Brennan, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 19, 1932, Serial No. 647,909 In Canada March 19,1929 31 Claims.

The invention relates broadly to fasteners, and more particularly tofasteners for binding loose papers together in a file, comprising a basehaving tongues or prongs at its ends adapted to extend over and be heldbent down against a keeper or compressor.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved fastener of thecharacter referred to with a novel keeper for holding the tongues inbinding engagement therewith against the papers in a file.

Another object is to provide a paper fastener with a novel keeper,having improved means cooperating with one tongue, arranged to draw orclamp the papers together prior to bringing the other tongue into itsfinal co-operative position.

Another object is to reduce the number of moving parts, in a paperfastener of the sliding lock type, and thereby reduce the cost ofmanufacture, simplify its mode of operation, and provide a moreefficient product.

The foregoing and such other objects of the invention as will appearhereinafter as the description proceeds will be more readily,understoodfrom a perusal of the following specification,

reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fastener embodying features of theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fastener of Fig. 1,showing the lock positioned over the bent down tongue.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of keeper,shown attached at one end to a tongue.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the keeper shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the keeper taken on line 5-5 ofFig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of keeper.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the fastenerconstituting the preferred embodiment of the invention, comprises a base10, provided at its ends with spaced tongues H,

adapted to pass through similarly spaced apertures I2 in the file ofpapers l3. Preferably, the tongues II are substantially less in widththan the body of said base and are struck up substantially at rightangles thereto, as shown.

The base I0 normally is positioned to lie flush against the bottom ofthe file papers l3, and a keeper H is adapted to be placed inco-operative position with the base against the top of the file papers.When in this position, the keeper and the projecting ends of the tonguesare in position to co-operate to bind the papers securely.

The keeper I 4 preferably consists of an elongated strip of stiffmaterial formed with an upset or shoulder l5 at one end and an elevatedtransverse strap l6 adjacent said upset. A transverseaperture llpreferably is provided adjacent the other end of the keeper betweenparallel tracks l8 which extend longitudinally inwardly and outwardlyfrom said aperture. 10

The tracks l8 preferably are struck up from the keeper in the form ofribs and have their ends I9 curved outwardly toward the longitudinaledges of the keeper to provide stops for a lock 2i mounted thereon formovement inwardly and 15 outwardly over the aperture l1. As shown, thelock or latch 2| preferably consists of a strip of material having itsends bent under the marginal flanges 22 which are elevated from theplane of the bottom of the keeper to allow free sliding of 20 the lockwithout its ends catching in or tearing the papers.

In operation, the keeper is placed with the strap 16 over one of thetongues said tongue being at right angles to the file papers and thenswung 25 downwardly against the file ofpapers at which time the othertongue passes through the aperture l'l. With the keeper now fiat againstthe papers, the projecting end of the tongue extending through apertureH is bent down over the Q keeper, between tracks l8 and the lock 2| ismoved over the bent down tongue to retain it in place. It will be notedthat said tongue may be bent down inwardly or outwardly of the aperture11 and locked, the lock 2| being slidable 35 inwardly or outwardly ofsaid aperture. It is preferable that a suitable projection Ila beprovided adjacent the end of the tongue that extends through aperture llto limit inward movement of the lock 2| from coming off the end of the40 tongue when the bent over portion of the tongue is shorter than theinwardly extending portions of tracks l8, due to the binding of arelatively thick file of papers. If desired, a short tapered rib l lbfor frictionally co-acting with the lock to 45 prevent accidentalmisplacement thereof while in binding position, may be provided.

The keeper is held tightly against the papers at the other end by reasonof the upset or shoulder end I5 which serves as a cam in co-operationwith 50 the tongue engaged thereby to draw the keeper and base together,against the papers.

In the form of fastener shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the keeper isprovided with longitudinal guides 23 formed by folding the marginaledges 55 of the keeper upwardly and inwardly. A slot lib is provided atone end to receive one of the tongues ii and the guides 23 are depressedas at 24 and 25, to limit movement of the lock 20, guided therein, toone end of the keeper. Said lock preferably is folded over the top ofthe guides, as at 26a, to hold it elevated. It is preferable that thetongues ll be provided adjacent their ends with tapered ribs lib toinsure retention of the lock over the tongue. The guides at the otherend of the keeper are of greater width to provide a longitudinalreceptacle or sheath open at its end to receive the other tongue, asshown.

Fig. 6 shows a keeper having a receptacle at one end formed by upwardlystruck opposed longitudinal parallel lips 21, to receive one of thetongues II, and an aperture llc adjacent the other end. The end of theother tongue passes through the aperture lie and is bent down inwardlyagainst the keeper and sprung laterally to engage beneath a lip 28 onthe keeper.

It can be readily understood that the fasteners shown in variousembodiments in the accompanying drawing and described in detail in theforegoing specification, effect a tight clamping of the papers in thefile and although exemplary embodiments are shown and described it is tobe understood that the invention is to be in no way limited to theprecise structures shown but is to embrace such structures as fallwithin the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a paper fastener keeper, in combination, a tongue receivingguideway at one end running substantially in the plane of said keeper,means adapted to receive a tongue, and a lock adapted to confine saidtongue when bent flat against said keeper 2. In a paper fastener keeper,in combination, a tongue receiving guideway at one end runningsubstantially in the plane of said keeper, a transverse perforationadjacent the other end adapted to receive a tongue, and a lock adaptedto confine said tongue when bent flat against said keeper.

3. A fastener comprising, in combination, an elongated keeper having astrap adjacent one end, a base having spaced tongues, one on each end,one of said tongues being adapted to overlie one end of the keeper andbe inserted beneath said strap, the other tongue being adapted to bebent over the top of the keeper, and means retaining said last namedtongue against said keeper.

4. A fastener comprising, in combination, an elongated keeper having atransverse opening in a plane substantially at right angles to the planeof and adjacent one end of the keeper, a base having spaced tongues, oneat each end, one of said tongues being adapted to overlie one end of thekeeper and be inserted through said opening, the other tongue beingadapted to be bent over against the top of said keeper to cooperate withthe keeper to bind said tongue to said keeper.

5. A fastener comprising, in combination, an elongated keeper having atransverse opening in a plane substantially at right angles to the planeof and adjacent one end of the keeper, a.base having spaced tongues, oneat each end, one of said tongues being adapted to be bent over one endof said keeper and extend through said opening, the other tongue beingadapted to be bent over against the top of the keeper, and meansretaining said last named tongue to said keeper.

6. A paper fastener keeper comprising an elongated member having atongue receiving recep- 5 tacle lying substantially in the plane of saidmember, said receptacle terminating and opening upon one end of saidmember, and a slidable tongue locking member mounted on said elongatedmember.

7. A paper fastener keeper comprising a plate member having an openingnear one end, a sheath member secured to the other end to form an openend receptacle, and a slidable locking member mounted on the plate.

8. A paper fastener keeper as described, comprising, a plate having anopening near one end, means at the other end forming a tongue receivingreceptacle, and a movable locking member mounted on the plate.

9. In a paper fastener keeper, a keeper plate, means forming alongitudinal passage opening upon one end of said keeper adapted toreceive and confine to the other end of said plate a tongue engagingmember slidably mounted on said plate.

10. A paper fastener keeper as described comprising a plate, means atone end forming a tongue receiving receptacle, a slot adjacent the otherend, and a related lock slidably mounted' on the plate.

11. A fastener comprising, in combination, an elongated keeper having atransverse strap adjacent one end, a base having spaced tongues one oneach end, one of said tongues being adapted to be bent over said end andinserted under said strap, the other tongue being adapted to be bentdown over the top of said keeper, and slidable means on said keeperadapted to engage and hold the last named tongue to the keeper.

12. A fastener comprising, in combination, an elongated keeper having atransverse opening adjacent one end and a transverse strap adjacent theother end, a base having spaced tongues one on each end, one of saidtongues being adapted to be bent over the keeper and inserted beneathsaid strap the other tongue being adapted to extend through said openingand be bent over said keeper, and means on the keeper adaptedtocooperate with the last named tongue to bind said tongue over thekeeper.

13. A fastener comprising, in combination, an elongated keeper having anelevated strap adjacent one end, a base having spaced tongues one oneach end, one of said tongues being adapted to be bent over the end ofsaid keeper and inserted through said strap, the other tongue being bentover the top of said keeper, and means slidable on said keeper adaptedto co-operate with said last named tongue to hold the tongue to thekeeper.

14. A fastener comprising, in combination, an elongated keeper, a flatelongated base having spaced tongues one on each end, a single strapformed inwardly of one end of said keeper and an aperture in the otherend of said keeper, said strap being adapted to receive slidablethereunder one of said tongues, the aperture in the other end beingadapted to receive the other of said tongues, said tongue being adaptedto be bent down over the keeper, and a lock 'slidable on said keeperover the bent over portion of the said other tongue to hold itsubstantially parallel with the keeper.

15. A fastener comprising, in combination, an elongated keeper having atransverse integral strap struck up adjacent one end, a base havingspaced tongues one on each end, one of said tongues being adapted to bebent over one end of the keeper and inserted beneath said strap, theother tongue being bent over the top of the keeper, and slide meansretaining said last named tongue against said keeper.

16. A fastener comprising, in combination, an elongated keeper having atransverse aperture adjacent one end, and a narrow transverse strapforming openings at its opposed edges between it and the keeper adjacentthe other end, a base having spaced tongues one on each end, one of saidtongues being insertable over said keeper beneath said strap, the otherof said tongues being adapted to extend through said aperture and bebent down over the keeper, and means on said keeper adjacent the endhaving the aperture to retain said tongue bent against the keeper.

17. A fastener comprising, in combination, an elongated keeper having astrap adjacent one end, a base having spaced tongues, one on each end,one of said tongues being adapted to overlie. one end of the keeper andbe inserted beneath said strap, the other tongue being adapted to bebent over against the top of said keeper, and means on the keeperadapted to co-operate with the tongue to bind said tongue to the keeper.

. being adapted to receive the other of said tongues,

said other tongue being adapted to be bent over against the keeper, anda lock slidable on said keeper over the bent over portion of the tongueto hold it against the keeper, the strap co-operating with said tongueupon movement of the keeper to clamp the papers together at one endprior to the sliding of the lock over said bent over tongue.

19. A fastener comprising, in combination, an elongated keeper having atransverse aperture adjacent one end and a strap adjacent the other end,a base having spaced tongues one on each end, one of said tongues beingbent over the keeper and inserted beneath said strap the other of saidtongues being adapted to extend through said aperture and be bent downover the keeper, longitudinal guides on said keeper, means slidable onsaid guides adapted to be moved over the bent down end of the last namedtongue, and means on said tongue adapted. to be engaged by the slidablemeans to retain it in place over said tongue.

20. A fastener comprising, in combination, a keeper having a strap atone end and an aperture at the other end, a base having spaced tonguesone on each end, one of said tongues being adapted to engage said strapand be bent down over the keeper as said keeper is rotated downwardly,the other of said tongues being adapted to pass through said aperture assaid keeper is rotated downwardly and then bent over the keeper, guidesformed at one end of the keeper at opposite sides of the aperture andthe associated tongue, 2. positive stop on the end of said associatedtongue, a short rib on said tongue, and a lock on said keeper movablealong said guides over said rib to bind the associated tongue to thekeeper.

21. A fastener having, in combination. a base provided with spacedtongues, a stop and short rib formed on one of said tongues, a keeperhav- 5 ing means to engage said tongues, and a lock slidable along saidkeeper to engage said stop and rib, said engagement being a bindingengagement with said rib and a positive stopping engagement with saidstop.

22. In a fastener, a keeper comprising, a flat elongated member formedwith substantially parallel side guides, a transverse shoulder at theend, and a strap adjacent said shoulder.

23. An article of the class described, having, in combination, a keeperprovided with a strap at one end and an aperture at the other end,relatively short longitudinal runways formed in said keeper at bothsides of said aperture, and a lock slidably mounted on said runwaysarranged to slide outwardly over and clear of said aperture and to bestopped thereby after passing said aperture.

24. An article of the class described, having in combination, a keeperwith a shoulder at one end, a strap adjacent thereto and an aperture atthe other end, relatively short longitudinal runways formed in saidkeeper at both sides of said aperture, and a lock slidably mounted onsaid runways arranged to slide outwardly over and clear of said apertureand to be stopped thereby after passing said aperture.

25. In an article of the class described, the combination of, a keeper,longitudinal opposed guide flanges extending inwardly along said keeper,said flanges extending inwardly a greater distance at one end than atthe other end, an aperture adjacent said other end, and a lock mountedfor sliding on said guides along said other end.

26. A fastener, comprising, in combination, an elongated keeper havinglongitudinal guides at one end and an aperture adjacent the other end, abase having tongues one at each end, one of said tongues being adaptedto be bent over the keeper and inserted under said guides, the other ofsaid tongues being insertable through said aperture and adapted to bebent over against said keeper, and means on said keeper to hold saidbent over tongue over the keeper.

27. In an article of the class described, the combination of, a keeperhaving guides at one end opening inwardly and a perforation at the otherend with a lock slidably mounted on said keeper arranged to slideoutwardly over and beyond said perforation.

28. A fastener comprising, in combination, an

elongated keeper having longitudinal guides at one end and an apertureadjacent the other end, a base having tongues one at each end, one ofsaid tongues being adapted to be bent over the keeper and insertedbeneath said guides, the other of said tongues insertable through said.aperture and being adapted to be bent over said keeper, and a lockslidable along said keeper over said bent tongue to bind the latteragainst the keeper.

29. A paper fastener keeper as described comprising a metal plate havinga longitudinal trough formed therein, a sheath plate secured to one endof the metal plate transversely of the trough, said metal plate havingan opening adjacent the other end, and a locking member slidably mountedon the metal plate.

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DANIILLBRINNAN.

